Download Argumentation & Debate

Argumentation & Debate
Resolutions and
Stock Issues
What is a debate resolution?
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An affirmative
statement of the topic
Always begins with,
“Resolved: That…
Chosen with great
care, consideration,
and input.
Often used for a
semester or a year.
What are the characteristics of
effective resolutions?
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Controversy
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Focus
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Neutral terms
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Precision
Debaters need a
level playing field
Allows for directed
research
The resolution must
be free of bias
Equivocal terms lead to
unproductive debate
Why are resolutions chosen?
The topic may involve a contemporary and
newsworthy controversy. It may involve an issue of
lasting import in American government, economics,
or culture. It may involve a controversy in which
there is little public agreement. It should involve a
controversy in which both sides have substantial
weight and evidence. It must involve a topic for
which evidence is abundant and readily available.
What are the types of resolutions?
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Fact

Value

Policy
Resolution of Fact
Resolved: That Carl
Yastremski was the
most recent winner of
baseball’s triple crown.
Resolution of Value
Resolved: That laws
which seek to ban
abortion reflect
American democratic
values.
Resolutions of policy
Resolved: The United
States federal government
should substantially
decrease its authority
either to detain without
charge or to search
without probably cause.
What are the roles of the affirmative
and negative teams?
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The affirmative (AFF) “affirms” (supports,
argues in favor of) the resolution
The negative (NEG) “negates” the resolution
AFF has the burden of proof, or the burden of
the resolution
NEG initially has the burden of rejoinder
NEG enjoys presumption
Keeping a Flow Sheet
I. Data mining
threatens
Americans’ right to
privacy.
A.Privacy is a basic
right of all
Americans
B. The federal
government is
committed to the
use of data mining.
C. Data mining
techniques threaten
the privacy of
Americans.
Keeping a Flow Sheet
I. Data mining
threatens
Americans’ right to
privacy.
A.Privacy is a basic
right of all
Americans
B. The federal
government is
committed to the
use of data mining.
C. Data mining
techniques threaten
the privacy of
Americans.
1. Privacy rights are
outweighed by safety
concerns.
a. There can be no
personal privacy
without security
from terrorism.
b. Polls show that
Americans want to
sacrifice some
privacy to be safe.
Congress has limited
data mining.
Data mining systems
include privacy protections.
Keeping a Flow Sheet
I. Data mining
threatens
Americans’ right to
privacy.
A.Privacy is a basic
right of all
Americans
B. The federal
government is
committed to the
use of data mining.
C. Data mining
techniques threaten
the privacy of
Americans.
1. Privacy rights are
outweighed by safety
concerns.
a. There can be no
personal privacy
without security
from terrorism.
b. Polls show that
Americans want to
sacrifice some
privacy to be safe.
Congress has limited
data mining.
Data mining systems
include privacy protections.
Keeping a Flow Sheet
I. Data mining
threatens
Americans’ right to
privacy.
A.Privacy is a basic
right of all
Americans
B. The federal
government is
committed to the
use of data mining.
C. Data mining
techniques threaten
the privacy of
Americans.
1. Privacy rights are
outweighed by safety
concerns.
a. There can be no
personal privacy
without security
from terrorism.
Terrorists have already
won if civil liberties are
abandoned.
Privacy rights are
absolute; feds should not
be allowed to decide
when to violate them.
b. Polls show that
Americans want to
sacrifice some
privacy to be safe.
Constitutional rights
should not be squandered
because of popular
opinion.
Congress has limited
data mining.
Data mining programs
have simply been
renamed, not banned.
Data mining systems
include privacy protections.
Protections are woefully
inadequate.